Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-04-20
THOSE SCHOOL TEXTBOOKS.
A Great Deal of Noise and a Very Little
Wool,

Great Deal of Noise and Very Little
Wool.
The sensation that some papers are at
tempting to create because the Executive
Committee of the State Board of Education
does not see proper at this time to order
the printing and binding of an additional
supply of textbooks to those already in
hand would be amusing if it were not in
many instances decidedly vicious. 1t isno
doubt generally known that at the last
meeting OF the State Board of Education
held in this city the Governor and State
Superintendent of Public Instruction were
constituted an Executive Committee upon
publication of the school textbooks. with
the arrangement decided upon that. when
ever the supply of any of the books became
reduced to 10000, they should have a fur
ther supply published.
Careful inquiry was made at the Capitol
yesterday, from officials having the
matter in charge, to ascertain what the
estimates of the County Superin
tendents were for those counties
whose contracts for books have expired
believing that figures from such source
ought to be satisfactory in making re-
vised calculation as to the supply on hand
being sufficient. 1t was found that of the
counties which will take the State series of
books the present season, the Superintend-
ents of all counties but four have submitted
estimates, and do not differ materially
from those fixed by the former State School
Board. Some of the counties are given
little higher and others less, but in the ae-
gregate they do not exceed the number of
thousands decided upon by Superintendent
Welcker and approved by the old Board
and which the present Board have used as
basis. The new estimates confirm those
figures.
According to the representations of a
San Francisco paper, Superintendent An
derson, of the schools of that city, would
have 1t appear that there were not books
enough on hand to supply the schools of
that city. In fact, be is reported to have
said so. His estimate of the number of
books the schools of San Francisco will
need during the present year has, however,
been received by the State Superintendent
and it makes an entirely different showing
His figures are: 10000 of first readers.
$4,000 second readers. 10000 third readers
10000 spoilers, and 10000 arithmetics. To-
tai, II 900.
The estimates of County Superintendent
are all based upon the books that it is sup
posed will be required to January 1, 1855.
Anu tle TOTAL lOr the counties whose con-
tracts have expired Cless four counties not
| received) is 101 $50. Estimating these four
counties in the same ratio as those re-
ported, 1t would make 13,0S4 more, and a
total of ia 1854. The number of volumes
on hand April l, 1887, was 80, 231. Sub.
| tract from this the ia, AGA and it leaves a
balance on hand the LIST of next January of
l5,767. This certainly ought to be accepted
based upon estimates just made by the
Superintendent of the counties to be sup
piled, including San Francisco, as reason
| ably safe calculation, and sufficient to stop
! the clamor that there are not books enough
for tue present season.
The purpose of the old Board in publish
ing the entire amount supposed to be
needed until January l, 1888, thus in ad-
vance, was to keep the way clear for pub
fishing the arithmetic and grammar, with
out interruption, as soon as they were ready
for the press. The arithmetic is now being
printed, and the edition will be off the press
in about three weeks, and full supply will
be bound and ready before the beginning of
the school year. 1t is intended then, after
this work is out of the way second edi-
ton Of the readers and spoilers will be is
sued. This is the :" long and short haul "
of the present status of the school-book